The first quarter of the year is now almost over. Some of us are already feeling the crunch of the current economic situation in our professional lives. Others have been able to at least maintain the status quo - or possibly even discovered a way to expand our business or career base.
What all of us have in common: A continued sense of cautious watchfulness.
To successfully harness all of our resources and make progress despite the current challenges, it is essential we effectively ‘abandon yesterday’. That does not mean forgetting the lessons experience have taught us. It does mean, however, ridding ourselves of the feeling that we can plan for our future as though it were simply another chapter of our yesterday. Because what worked for us yesterday is not working for us today - much less tomorrow.
Every organization looks to its key players to implement their change strategies. To ensure that new visions and strategies are actually realized, it is important to understand everyone’s rôle - including your own - in the process.
What change type are you?
Are you a double agent? In other words, after it’s all been said and done, do you SAY more than you actually DO?
Or are you a saboteur? Do you fight to withstand the winds of change in order to maintain the status quo no matter what?
Do you belong to the groupies - one of those people who seek safety in numbers by standing firmly somewhere in the middle?
Or do you count as one of the mavericks? Someone who pushes ahead without aligning yourself with senior management, because it’s easier for you to apologize than it is for you to ask permission?
The mettle of a leadership personality is always put to the test when the junction of change presents itself. But it’s not only about how you react to change; it’s also about how well you were prepared for it in the first place.
In a crisis situation, external factors force people comfortably enveloped in the status quo to react. Whether this be a general economic downturn or a specific and immediate challenge within the marketplace, this call to change blindsides you when you are not looking, and finds you not - or only poorly - prepared.
I’ve already written about the importance of feedback and shared some tips on the employee evaluation process. As a matter of fact, my most recent segment on BlogTalkRadio deals with the subject and you can have a listen by clicking the icon on the top right.
Right now I want to further accentuate one aspect of the evaluation process that receives too little attention: the reaction of the person being evaluated.
My current project is keeping me on my toes, and temporarily leaving little time to blog. Yes, it’s all about priorities.
To tide me over till I can play ‘blog post catch-up’ I would like to share this collection of inspirational quotes with you all. Even the most banal quote - encountered at exactly the right moment - can be a source of inspiration and motivation! That’s why I always take time to read them on other blogs, and copy the ones the resonate with me for later reflection.
A friend sent me the video I am posting below today. This link wandered into my inbox at a time during a time when I have been talking to more and more people about the power of coaching, and the importance of continuing (if not upgrading) their commitment to improving both their life and professional skills. Whether or not the information contained in the video is 100 % accurate, it is certainly very rich food for thought.
During my ongoing discussion with people clambering for insight and answers, this video has brought home to me one hard fact: There is NOTHING I can learn today that will be as valuable to me as the skills that help me deal more deftly with change.
Our ability to adapt to the ever-present change surrounding us is our key to personal and professional success. Inability to adjust to change will quickly become the anchor that drags us to the bottom.
The questions I ask myself and my existing clients - and am now passing on to you:
In a world where it is more than ever up to you to define what success and personal/professional fulfillment mean, how in-tune am you with what really drives and motivates you - in your personal lives as well as in your profession?
In a world where your scope of professional involvement has widened so drastically, how well do you present yourself, what you know, and what you can do?
In a world where you are called upon to add value to every interaction you engage in, how aware are you of the inherent leadership skills you possess - and what do you do to regularly improve and expand them?
These questions are not something we can answer once - for today - and then forget. These are (just some of) questions we need to ask ourselves on a regular basis, and - based on our honest answers - be prepared to ’step up our game’ - or be relegated to the sidelines.
(Originally posted on 20 May 2008)
